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A  TRACT 


PASSION    W  EEK 


CONTAINING 


REFLECTIONS  ON  PALM  SUNDAY,  GOOD  FRIDAY, 
AND  EASTER  EVE. 


Reholil.  wo  so  up  to  Jerusalem ;  and  the  Sun  of  man  shall  be  be- 
trayed unto  the  chief  priests  and  unto  the  scribes,  ami  they  shall 
condemn  him  to  death,  and  shall  deliver  him  to  the  Gentiles,  to 
mock  and  to  scotirge  and  to  crucify  him;  and  the  third  day  he  snail 
i  isc  again.— St.  Matt.  xx.  IS, 19.  ' 


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CHARLESTON: 

STKAM-l'OWKU    PRESSES    OF    EVANS    &    COGSWELL 

Xo.  3  Broad  and  103  East  Bay  street. 

18G2. 


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^ c£ 


PASSION  WEEK. 

0  Thou,  who  through  this  holy  week 

Didsl  Buffer  for  us  all : 
The  sick  to  cure,  the  lost  to  seek, 

To  raise  up  them  that  fall  : 

We  cannot  understand  the  woe 
Thy  love  was  pleas'd  to  hear: 

0  Lamb  of  God  !  we  only  know 
That  all  our  hopes  arc  there  ! 

Thy  feet  the  path  of  suffering  trod: 
Thy  hand  the  victory  won: 

What  shall  we  render  to  our  God 
For  all  that  He  hath  done  ? 

To  God  the  Father,  God  the  Son, 
And  God  the  Holy  (ihost. 

By  men  on  earth  he  honor  done. 
And  by  the  heavenly  host. 


Is  it  nothing  to  you,  all  ye  that  pass  by  ?  behold,  ami  see 
if  there  be  any  sorrow  like  unto  my  sorrow.— Lam.  i,  12. 


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P  A  L  M      SUM  I)  A  Y 


Gal.  vi,  14. 


"God  forbid  that   I  should  glory,  saro  In   the  erqss  of 
our   Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom   the  world   is  crucifiefl 

until  me,  and  I  unto  the  world." 


To-day  begins  the  most  solemn  week  in  the  whole 
year,  the  great  and  holy  week  of  the  Passion  (or  sutL 
fe'ring)  of  our  blessed  Lord.  From  beginning  to  end 
of  it  one  tiling  is  held  up  to  us,  even  the  Cross  of 
Jesus.  On  that  we  are  bidden  to  fix  our  eyes.  It  is 
that  which  must  fill  our  hearts.  Day  by  day  in  the 
services  of  the  Church  is  read  the  wonderful  stofy  of 
the  Saviour's  death.  Day  by  day  we  are  called  upon 
to  go  up,  as  it  were,  in  spirit  to  Calvary,  and  gaze  on 
that  blessed  and  awful  sight.  A  voice  seems  to  speak 
to  us  from  heaven,  saying,  "  Go  up  and  behold  : — 
behold  your  Lord  and  your  God  sinking  under  the 
cross,  which  He  bears  for  you:  behold  Him  nailed  to 
the  accursed  tree,  bleeding  with  the  strokes  of  the 
cruel  scourge,  torn  with  the  thorns  they  have  put 
upon  His  holy  brow  :  behold   Him  raised  high  in  the 


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air,  like  the  brazen  serpent  in  the  wilderness,  while 
the  world  stands  round  and  mocks  His  agony  :  behold 
Him  worn  out  with  His  awful  weight  of  suffering, 
bowing  His  head,  and  giving  up  the  ghost.  Listen 
to  His  sacred  voice  praying  for  His  murderers : 
listen  to  His  blessed  promise  to  the  penitent  thief 
beside  Him  :  listen  to  His  words  of  fearful  woe.  when 
even  the  presence  of  the  Father  seemed  for  a  while 
withdrawn.  'My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  Thou  for- 
I  saken  Me  ?'  listen  to  that  last  piercing  cry,  when  lie 
gave  up  His  spirit  to  God.  Look  upon  the  earth- 
quake, and  the  sudden,  awful  darkness,  and  the 
rending  of  the  veil  of  the  Temple,  and  the  rising  of 
the  dead  from  their  graves."  Nay,  let  not  man's 
weak  words  try  to  picture  that  mighty  scene.  Go  to 
God's  own  Word.  Read  there,  day  by  day  this  week, 
of  these  things.  And  as  you  read  try  to  realize — to 
make  it  real  to  your  hearts.  Bring  it  all  before  you. 
See  it.  Hear  it.  Stand  there,  amid  the  darkness 
and  the  signs  and  wonders,  and  try  to  feel  yourself 
in  the  very  presence  of  that  scene,  the  most  marvel- 
lous the  world  has  ever  known  —  God  hanging  in 
death  upon  the  Cross  for  man. 

Oh  !  can  we  stand  unmoved  before  Him  who, 
though  lie  was  God  from  everlasting,  put  off  His 
glory,  and  took  upon  Him  our  flesh  that  He  might 
sulfer  these  things  for  us?  Can  we  see  unmoved  the 
load  of  our  sins  weighing  down  the  spotless  Lamb  of 


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God  even  unto  (loath  ?  "  Surely  He  hath  borno  Otw 
griefs  and  carried  our  sorrows."  "  lie  was  wounded 
for  our  transgressions,  He  was  bruised  for  our  iniqui- 
ties: the  chastisement  of  our  peace  was  upon  Him; 
and  with  His  stripes  we  are  healed." 

And  yet,  alas  !  it  is  too  true  that  we  can  see  and 
hear  these  great  tilings  unmoved — nay,  that  many  do 
so.  Year  by  year  we  are  called  upon  to  behold  and 
to  listen  to  them.  They  are  brought  before  us, 
Whether  we  will  or  no.  But  how  often  do  they 
rouse  in  us  no  awe,  no  worship,  no  fear,  no  gratitude, 
no  love,  no  zeal,  no  penitence.  How  often  are  we 
like  Gal lio,  who  u cared  for  none  of  these  things." 
Oh!  how  is  it  that  there  are  such  numbers,  who  do 
make  some  outward  profession  of  religion,  yet  are  so 
wholly  wanting  in  its  spirit  and  power?  Surely  the 
fault  is  in  the  root  of  the  whole  matter.  It  is  Want 
of  faith  which  makes  the  Cross  of  Christ  so  dull  and 
cold  a  subject  to  so  many,  which  hides  its  wonders 
and  its  glories  from  the  passer-by.  The  eye  of  the 
soul  is  shut :  so  how  can  it  see  that  which  it  is  bid- 
den to  look  upon  V  It  is  asleep,  and  opens  not :  so 
how  can  it  gaze  upon  the  great  things  held  up  before 
it  ? 

And  now.  how  shall  we  spend  this  Passion  Week 
with  profit  ?  How  shall  we  win  a  blessing  from  it  as 
it  passes  ? 

First,  let  us  try  to  fill  our  minds  with  the  one  great 
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thought  of  Christ's  suffering  and  death.  Whatever 
|  our  business  or  work,  let  us  take  this  thought  with  us, 
and  dwell  upon  it  as  often  and  as  long  as  we  can. 

Secondly,  let  us  turn  this  thought  into  prayer.  Let 
us  lift  up  our  hearts  very  often  to  the  throne  of  grace 
in  secret  prayer;  thanking  God  for  the  great  Re- 
demption wrought  for  us,  and  asking  Him  to  help  us 
to  love  our  Saviour  better  and  to  become  more  like 
Him. 

Thirdly,  let  us  take  for  our  guidance  our  Lord's 
own  rule,  "  If  any  man  will  come  after  me,  let  him 
deny  himself,  and  take  up  his  cross  and  follow  me." 
Let  us  practise  some  sell-denial — give  up  something 
for  Him  who  gave  up  all  for  us. 

Fourthly,  let  us,  if  we  have  the  power,  seek  God's 
house  more  often,  and  not  mind  if  it  puts  us  to  some 
little  trouble  to  do  so.  Or,  if  we  cannot  do  this,  let 
us  at  least  read  at  home  those  portions  of  God's 
Word  which  are  lixed  for  the  different  days  of  this 
week,  and  try  to  print  its  great  lessons  dee})  on  our 
minds. 

Fifthly,  let  all  who  have  been  confirmed  prepare 
themselves  in  a  very  careful  and  solemn  manner  for 
the  Easter  Communion.  Surely,  all  who  love  their 
Lord,  and  whose  hearts  this  week  have  been  tilled 
with  the  thought  of  His  most  precious  Body  broken 
and  Blood  poured  forth  for  them,  ought  to  be  present 
at  the  sacred  feast  at  Easter. 


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But  are  we  to  think  of  these  things  only  for  one 
short  week  V  Oh,  no  !  It  is  good  for  us  to  have 
times  and  seasons  fixed  for  the  special  thought  of  the 
great  truths  of  God;  but,  Unless  these  times  and  sea- 
sons have  some  lasting  fruit,  they  are  truly  thrown 
away.  Our  Lesson  this  week  is  to  glory  in  nothing 
"save  in  the  Cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  But 
God  help  us  always  to  love  that  Cross  better.  God 
keep  alive  in  us  its  sacred  lessons,  till  we  can  take  up 
our  cross  daily,  and  "  follow  the  Lamb  whithersoever 
He  goeth  ;"  till  we  can  feel  that  "the  world  is  cruci- 
fied unto  us  and  we  unto  the  world ;"  till  we  can  say, 
"  I  am  crucified  with  Christ  ;  nevertheless  I  live,  yel 
not  I,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me." 


Almighty  and  everlasting  God,  who  of  Thy  tender  love 
toward  mankind,  hast  sent  Thy  Son,  our  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,  to  take  upon  Iliin  our  flesh,  and  to  sutler  death 
upon  the  cross,  that  all  mankind  should  follow  the  exam- 
ple <>i  His  great  humility;  mercifully  grant  that  we  may 
both  follow  the  example  of  His  patience,  and  also  be  made 
partakers  of  His  resurrection;  through  the  same  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord.     Amen. 


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••Tell  ye  the  daughter  of  Sinn,  behold  thy  King  cometh  unto 
thee,  meek,  and  sitting  upon  an  ass.  and  a  colt  tlie  foal  of  an  ass." 

Ride  on  !   ride  on  in  majesty  ! 

Hark,  nil  the  tribes  Hosanna  cry  : 

0  Saviour  meek,  pursue  Thy  road, 

With  palms  and  scatter'd  garments  strew' d. 

Ride  on  !  ride  on  in  majesty  ! 
In  lowly  pomp,  ride  on  to  die  ! 
0  Christ,  Thy  triumphs  now  begin 
O'er  captive  death  and  conquer'd  sin. 

Ride  on  !  ride  on  in  majesty  ! 

The  Angel  armies  of  the  sky 

Look  down  with  sad  and  wondering  eyes, 

To  see  the  approaching  Sacrifice. 

Ride  on  !  ride  on  in  majesty  ! 
The  last  and  fiercest,  strife  is  nigh  : 
The  Father  on  His  sapphire  Throne, 
Expects  His  Own  anointed  Hon. 

Ride  on  !    ride  on  in  majesty  ! 

In  lowly  pomp,  ride  on  to  die  ! 

Bow  Thy  meek  Head  to  mortal  pain, 

Then  take,  0  God,  Thy  Power,  and  reign. 

Reign  on  !  reign  on  in  majesty! 
Reign  on  in  triumph.  Lord  most  High  ! 
We  hymn  Thee  on  Thy  Throne  of  love, 
Almighty  King,  in  realms  above.     Amen. 


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GOOD    FBI  DA  V. 

St.  John  xix,  5. 

''Then  came  Jesus  forth,  wearing  the  crown  of  thorns, 
and  tii.'  purple  robe.     A  1.1I  Pilate  saitb  unto  them,  Behold 

the  man  !" 

How  simple,  and  yet  how  perfect,  is  this  picture  ! 
A  few  short  words,  and  vet  we  can  sec  it  all.  Let  us 
stop  and  gaze  upon  it ;  for  it  is  not  a  picture  to  be 
lightly  passed  by.  Sic  He  comes  forth  from  the 
judgment-hall,  "wearing  the  crown  of  thorns,  and 
the  purple  robe."  And  who  is  this  that  comes  forth  ? 
It  is  the  "  man  of  sorrows  and  acquainted  with  grief;" 
it  is  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  the  "despised  and  rejected 
of  men;"  and  vet  (oh!  wonderful  love!)  it  is  our 
Saviour,  our  Kino;,  our  God.  There  He  stands,  and 
we  can  see  the  bleeding  brow,  and  the  smitten  face, 
and  the  mangling  of  the  cruel  scourge;  we  can  see 
the  look  of  patient  suffering,  of  holy  meekness,  of 
tender  love.  And  Pilate  points  Him  out  to  us,  and 
says,  "  Behold  the  man."  And  can  we  turn  away 
from  such  a  picture  ?  Does  it  not  touch  and  melt 
j  our  hearts  ?  Do  we  not  hear  His  pleading  voice  as 
I  He  stands  there  in  His  crown  and  robe  of  mockery, 


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crying  to  us  and  saying,  "  Is  it  nothing  to  you,  all  ye 
that  pass  by  ?  Behold,  and  see  if  there  be  any  sor- 
row like  unto  my  sorrow  ?" 

Or  pass  on  a  few  hours,  and  look  upon  another 
picture.  It  is  a  still  more  wonderful  and  touching 
one.  Pass  on  from  the  judgment-hall  to  Calvary. 
Go,  and  stand  afar  off',  in  loving  awe  and  lowly  rev- 
erence, and  behold  that  awful  sight.  See  there  that 
dim  Cross  standing  up  against  the  darkened  mid-day 
sky.  Trace  the  suffering  Form  that  hangs  upon  it. 
Mark  the  drops  of  blood  falling  last  from  the  pierc- 
ing thorns  upon  His  sacred  head,  and  raining  down 
from  the  cruel  nails  in  His  holy  hands  and  feet. 
Once  again,  "  Behold  the  man  !"  And  know  that 
He  you  look  upon  is  none  other  than  your  God,  giv- 
ing His  most  precious  Body,  shedding  His  most  pre- 
cious Blood,  to  save  you  from  the  wrath  to  come. 
Oh  !  "  is  it  nothing  to  you,  all  ye  that  pass  by  ?" 

Such  are  the  pictures  Good  Friday  sets  before  our 
eyes.  It  is  a  day  to  be  much  observed  amongst  as — 
a  day  to  fill  our  whole  hearts  and  minds  with  thoughts 
of  the  Cross  of  Christ.  It  is  a  solemn,  mournful,  day ; 
a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer;  a  day  for  much  secret 
thought,  and  self-examination,  and  repentance. 

Let  us  try  to  think  of  Jesus  Himself  watching  our 
hearts  to  see  how  the  great  things  of  this  day  touch 
them,  and  what  will  be  their  fruit  in  us.  Alas  !  how 
many  go  upon  their  way — of  business  or  pleasure,  it 


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matters  not  which — and  never  turn  aside  even  for  a 
moment  to  gaze  where  their  Saviour  Himself  hangs 
bleeding  ibr  them.  They  hurry  od  :  it  is  nothing  to 
them  :  and  they  pass  by.  But  is  it  really  nothing  to 
them  ?  Tljey  may  think  it  so.  and  feel  it  so,  but  it 
cannot  really  be  so.  It  must  make  a  difference  to 
them,  for  good  or  for  ill.  whether  they  will  or  no. 
They  cannot  despise  their  Lord,  and  refuse  to  heed 
Him,  ami  w"  pass  by,"  and  be  none  the  worse  ibr  it. 
If  the}'  will  not  know  Him  as  their  living  and  cruci- 
fied Saviour,  they  shall  know  Him,  one  day,  as  their 
wrathful  and  terrible  Judge. 

But  many  stop  to  gaze.  There  are  many  eyes  that 
turn  to  look  on  the  wondrous  scene.  But  not  all 
alike  :  not  all  in  the  spirit  of  faith  and  love.  A  gnat 
many  look  because  it  is  the  custom  to  look.  The}'  go 
to  church,  and  listen  to  the  story  of  their  Saviour's 
death,  because  it  is  the  right  thing  to  do.  But  though 
that  solemn  story  falls  on  the  ear,  does  it  always  go 
down  deeper  V  Does  it  always  get  to  the  heart  ? 
Is  it  never  heard  with  listless  weariness,  with  idle 
unconcern  '?  Let  us  each  make  sure,  at  least,  about 
ourselves.  How  have  we  heard  this  story '?  How 
have  zve  looked  upon  the  great  Good  Friday  pic- 
tures ?  Plave  we  really  taken  our  part  in  the  great 
scene  ?  If  we  have  been  standing  by  the  Cross  of 
Jesus  at  all,  has  our  place  been  with  the  careless, 
godless,  Roman    soldiers,  who,  though  so  near  the 


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Cross,  knew  nothing  of  its  power  and  its  love ;  or 
with  the  holy  women  who  "  stood  afar  off,"  gazing 
with  full  hearts  on  that  sight,  from  which  the  very 
sun  in  heaven  hid  its  face?  Has  it  all  been  a  real 
living  thing  to  our  hearts  ?  Has  it  filled  them,  so 
that  there  was  no  room  for  vain  and  idle  (and  much 
less  for  sinful)  thoughts  this  day?  Have  Ave  really 
felt,  and  mourned,  and  loved  ?  Remember,  there 
may  be  much  inward  coldness  under  much  outward 
observance.  The  great  question  is,  Do  we  love  the 
Lord  or  no  ?  If  we  do  love  Him,  we  cannot  pass  by 
all  His  sorrows  and  His  sufferings  for  us,  with  hearts 
cold  and  unconcerned. 

God  grant  that  this  day  may  not  be  without  its 
fruit  in  us,  but  that  we  may  so  learn  its  holy  lessons 
that  "  Christ  may  dwell  in  our  hearts  by  faith  ;  that 
we,  being  rooted  and  grounded  in  love,  may  be  able 
to  comprehend,  with  all  saints,  what  is  the  breadth, 
and  length,  and  depth,  and  height;  and  to  know  the 
love  of  Christ  which  passeth  knowledge,  that  we  may 
be  filled  with  all  the  fulness  of  God."     Amen. 


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0  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  only  Sou  of  God,  who  wast 
given  both  to  be  a  sacrifice  for  sin  and  also  an  ensample 
of  godly  life;  who  did'st  bid  us  take  up  our  cross  and  daily 
follow  Thee;  make,  we  pray  Thee,  the  yoke  of  Thy  com- 
mandments sweet,  and  the  burden  of  Thy  cross  light  unto 
our  souls.  Conform  Thy  sen  ants,  0  Lord,  to  the  likeness 
of  Thy  passion;  give  us  grace,  0,  Eternal  Father,  that  we 
strive  to  keep  the  way  of  the  holy  cross,  and  carry  in  our 
hearts  the  image  oj'  Jesus  crucified.  Make  us  cheerfully 
resign  ourselves  to  Thy  divine  will,  that,  being  fashioned 
after  His  life-giving  death,  we  may  die  according  to  the 
flesh,  and  live  according  to  the  spirit  of  righteousness ; 
through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord  and  only  Saviour.    Amen. 


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-Jesus  said.  It  is  finished;  and  He  bowed  His  head  and  gave  up 
the  ghost.'' 

JeSU,  Who  didst  set  us  free 
From  sin's  curse  and  tyranny: 
By  Thy  death  Thou  life  dost  give. 
Life  to  all  who  Thee  receive. 

While  each  solemn  function  high 
Of  that  woeful  mystery 
On  the  Cross  Thou  deign'st  to  bear. 
Saviour,  with  most  loving  care: 

"  Finishing"  the  Rite  of  rites  ! 
"  Finishing"  the  last  of  fights  ! 
"Finishing"  life's  shadowy  race! 
"Finishing"  the  Work  of  Grace  ! 

While  death's  hour  is  hast'ning  ou, 
While  life's  strength  is  all  but  gone, 
While  the  end  Thou'rt  bent  to  meet. 
While  the  task  is  just  complete; 

In  a  word  the  sum  is  said — 
Thou  dost  cry  "  'Tis  finished!" 
Yea,  the  Lord  is  crucified  ! 
Yea,  for  us  the  Lamb  hath  died  ! 


»>■ 


Now  His  precious  Blood  is  shed  ! 

Now  our  souls  aro  ransomed  ! 

Now  is  Satan's  power  braved ; 

Christ  hath  died,  and  man  is  saved  !    Amen. 


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E  AS  TEE     KV  E. 

Psalms  xxiii,  4. 

''Yen.  though  T  walk    through  the  valley  of  the  shadow 
of  death,  1  will  (car  no  evil  :  for  Thou  art  with  me  ;  Thy 

rod  and  Thy  start'  they  comfort  me." 


How  strangely  calm  and  solemn  are  the  thoughts 
which  this  day  brings  !  It  was  the  Jewish  Sabbath, 
the  day  of  rest.  And  Jesus  rests  in  the  dark  and 
silent  chamber  of  the  tomb.  "It  is  finished" — the 
sad  life  of  sorrow  and  of  suffering — the  pathway  of 
grief — the  journey  of  pain.  No  more  toil,  and 
want,  and  misery:  no  mure  sighing  and  tears;  no 
more  hatred  and  enmity ;  no  more  mocking  and 
insult  ;  no  more  agony  and  sorrow  of  soul  even  unto 
death  ;  no  more  smiting,  and  jeering,  and  buffeting, 
and  spitting  on  ;  no  more  fainting  under  the  weight 
of  the  cross ;  no  more  rending  with  the  scourge  :  no 
more  piercing  with  the  nails;  no  more  crowning 
with  the  thorns  :  no  more  hanging  by  those  bleeding 
hands  and  feet  to  the  bitter  cross;  no  more  dying  in 
the  lingering  torture  of  a  felon's  shameful  execution. 

"It  is  finished" — all  that  the  prophets  prophesied, 


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16 


and  the  types  foreshadowed.  "  Messiah  is  cut  off, 
but  not  for  Himself."  "  He  is  cut  off  out  of  the  land 
of  the  living."  It  has  "pleased  the  Lord  to  bruise 
Him;  He  hath  put  Him  to  grief."  He  hath  made 
"  His  soul  an  offering  for  sin."  "  He  hath  poured 
out  His  soul  unto  death."  "  He  was  numbered  with 
the  transgressors,  and  bare  the  sin  of  many  ;"  and 
His  fainting  lips  "  made  intercession  for  the  trans- 
gressors"— "  Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not 
what  they  do."  "  And  lie  hath  made  His  grave 
with  the  wicked  and  with  the  rich  in  His  death," 
dying  between  the  thieves — buried  in  the  rich  man's 
grave.  And  the  Paschal  Lamb  has  been  truly  sacri- 
ficed, and  He  is  a  Lamb  "  without  blemish  and  with- 
out spot;"  and  "as  Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent  in 
the  wilderness,  even  so"  now  hath  the  Son  of  Man 
been  "  lifted  up."  And  the  Scapegoat  is  gone  away 
into  the  wilderness,  the  Victim  has  passed  to  the 
unseen  world  with  the  sins  of  the  people  laid  upon 
His  precious  head.  The  Scriptures  are  fulfilled. 
"  It  is  finished." 

Yes,  all  is  over,  and  between,  the  sad  heart-rend- 
ing scenes  of  Good  Friday,  and  the  glad  and  glori- 
ous news  of  Easter  morning,  there  conies  in  this  one 
calm  day  of  rest  and  peace — rest  for  the  weary 
Body,  peace  for  the  Soul  set  free.  The  Body  rests 
in  the  silent  tomb.      The  Soul  is  gone  to  Paradise. 

And  what  is  Paradise  V     We  know  not,  save  that 


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17 

it  is  the  happy  place  where  the  souls  of  those  that 
"die  in  the  Lord"  are  waiting  for  the  fuller  glory 
and  happiness  of  the  presence  of  God  in  heaven. 
There  the  penitent  thief  met  his  Saviour  after  death. 
And  there  we  believe  are  gathered  in  a  blissful  rest 
all  the  "  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect;"  sharing 
in  the  special  presence  of  their  Lord,  for  to  them  to 
"depart"  was  to  "be  with  Christ;"  and  looking 
forward,  with  a  "hope  full  of  immortality,"  to  their 
"perfect  consummation  and  Miss,  both  in  body  and 
soul,  in  eternal  and  everlasting  glory." 

And  here,  we  may  observe,  that  when  our  Creed 
says  that  Christ  "descended  into  hell"  the  word 
"hell"  does  not  mean  hell-fire.  It  is  quite  a  differ- 
ent word  in  the  original  language  of  the  Creed, 
and  means  the  "  place  of  the  departed;"  and  so  the 
Creed  only  tells  us  that  our  Lord  went  down 
amongst  the  dead,  which  He  did  when  He  went  to 
Paradise. 

And,  oh !  what  a  happy  place  Paradise  musl  be! 
"  There  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling,  and  the 
weary  are  at  rest."  Surely  there  are  times — times 
of  sorrow,  and  weariness,  and  disappointment  — 
when  all,  who  have  any  thought  of  these  things, 
would  "  desire  to  depart  and  to  be  with  Christ, 
which  is  far  better."  Christ  said,  "Come  unto  me, 
all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will 
give  you  rest."     He  gives  that  rest  even  here ;  but, 

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18 


oh  !  how  far  sweeter  must  be  the  rest  He  gives  in 
Paradise  !  "  There  remaineth  a  rest  for  the  people 
of  God."  "Let  us  labor,  therefore,  to  enter  into 
that  rest." 

And  while  Christ  is  dead  in  the  silent  tomb,  let  us 
think  of  our  death.  It  is  fttt  drawing  near.  It  will 
not  tarry  long.  Our  bodies,  too,  unless  we  be  alive 
at  the  coming  of  the  Lord,  will  soon  sleep  in  the 
dark,  cold,  grave.  Are  we  afraid  to  die  ?  Does  the 
"  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death"  look  very  dark  and 
terrible  to  our  weak  faith  V  Nay,  why  should  we 
fear  it  ?  Jesus  has  passed  through  it  before  us.  He 
has  robbed  it  of  its  terrors.  Do  we  fear  to  go  to 
Him  ?  Do  we  fear  to  be  with  Him?  Is  it  so  fearful 
to  hear  the  words,  "  To-day  shalt  thou  be  with  Me 
in  Paradise  V"  We  only  want  more  faith — faith  to 
look  beyond  the  narrow  stream  that  parts  us  from 
the  promised  land — faith  to  believe  in  the  Saviour's 
blessed  presence  even  as  we  pass  through  the  dark 
waters.  How  well  for  us  to  be  able  to  say,  "  O 
Death,  where  is  thy  sting  V  O  Grave,  where  is  thy 
victory  V"  "  Yea,  though  I  walk  through  the  valley 
of  the  shadow  of  death,  1  will  fear  no  evil:  for  Thou 
art  with  me;  Thy  rod  and  Thy  staff*  they  comfort 
me." 


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19 


Grant.  0  Lord,  that  as  we  are  baptized  into  the  death  of 
Thy  blessed  Son,  our  Saviour.  Jesus  Christ,  so  by  con- 
tinual mortifying  our  corrupt  affections,  we  may  be  buried 
with  Him  :  and  that  through  the  grave  and  gate  of  death, 
we  may  pass  to  our  joyful  resurrection;  for  His  merits 
who  died  and  was  buried,  and  rose  again  for  us.  Thy  Sou 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.     Amen. 


"And  when  Joseph  hail  taken  the  Body,  he  wrapped  It  in  a  clean 
linen  cloth,  and  laid  It  in  his  own  new  tomb,  which  he  had  hewn 
out  in  the  rock.  And  there  was  Mary  Magdalene  and  the  other 
Mary,  sitting  over  against  the  sepulchre." 

Besting  from  His  work  to-day 
In  the  tomb  the  Saviour  lay  ; 
Still  He  sleeps,  from  Head  to  Feel 
Shrouded  in  the  winding-sheet, 
In  the  rocky  tomb  alone, 
Hidden  by  the  sealed  stone. 

Late  at  even  there  was  seen 
Watching  long  the  Magdalene; 
Early  rose,  as  rested  late, 
By  the  sepulchre  to  wait, 
In  the  holy  garden  glade, 
Where  her  buried  Lord  was  laid. 


So  with  Thee,  till  life  shall  end, 
I  would  solemn  vigil  spend; 


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20 

Let  me  hew  Tliec,  Lord.  :i  shrine 
In  this  stony  heart  of  mine  ; 
Where,  in  pure  embalmed  cell, 
None  but  Thou  msty  ever  dwell  ! 

Myrrh  and  spices  will  I  bring. 

True  affection's  offering; 

Close  the  door  from  sight  and  sound 

Of  the  busy  world  around  : 

And  in  patient  watch  remain, 

Till  my  Lord  appear  again.     Amen. 


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By  Thine  agony  and  bloody  sweat; 

By  Thy  Cross  and  Passion ; 

By  Thy  precious  Death  and  Burial ; 

By  Thy  glorious  Resurrection  and  Ascension ; 

By  the  coming  of  the  Holy  Ghost : 

Good  Lord  deliver  us. 


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